HC Deb 19 November 1958 vol 595 c150W
75. Mr. Watkins

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider allowing skilled craftsmen engaged in rural crafts ancillary to agriculture to be treated similarly to agricultural workers as far as deferment of call-up for National Service is concerned.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Deferment of call-up is allowed in exceptional cases, after consultation with the Agricultural Departments, to young men employed in remote areas in a small number of the old rural crafts. Such deferment is granted only where it can be shown that food production would be seriously impaired by the withdrawal of the man concerned. I am not prepared to make any further extension.